The Creekview girls soccer team may be the team with the most on the line in Cherokee County as they have legitimate state title aspirations entering the postseason. After making the state semifinals last season, the lady Grizzlies are currently ranked second in Class 3A behind St. Pius X, the team that eliminated them. With centerback Megan Hill and goalkeeper Jessica Estes back for Creekview, the road may still go through the Golden Lions, but it looks as though the lady Grizzlies will be ready for a rematch if it should occur.
ON THE LINKS …
With a second-place finish in the region championships, the Etowah boys golf team is headed to their second straight state championship, which will be held May 3rd at Reynolds Plantation’s Landings Course. Junior Anders Albertson has led the way for the Eagles this season and he played a major role in helping Etowah to the second place finish in the regional. Albertson finished tied for second at the tournament but lost in a playoff to Ollie Schniederjans of Harrison. Though it was a tough loss for Albertson, it would not have improved his team’s position as Harrison cruised to the team regional victory. While it has been a year of steady improvement for the Eagles, they are a team that still may be waiting to reach their peak. With Harrison as well as several other top flight programs making their way to Reynolds Plantation, there is no better time for Etowah to put all the pieces together.
COURTING TITLES …
The Lambert Boys tennis team swept through the first round of the state playoffs defeating Heritage (Catoosa), 5-0. Jake Bouchillon (6-0, 6-2), Kevin Duffey (6-3, 6-0), and Chase Wakefield (6-4, 6-1) each won their singles matches, while Zubin Irani and Calvin Kraakevik (6-0, 6-0) and Nick Alesia and Sam Schilling (6-0, 6-1) got wins at doubles. While Heritage was able to win a few games in singles, they simply could not match Lambert’s depth, which was very apparent in the doubles matches.
The win streak has now reached 14 straight as the team’s only other loss came in the second match of the season against Class 5A Northview. This is the eighth straight team that Lambert has defeated without losing a set. In related news, county and class rival West Forsyth’s season came to an end as they lost 3-0 to Cartersville.
The Lambert and West Forsyth girl’s tennis teams both won 3-0 in the first round of the state playoffs showing just how tough of a region rival the teams were to one another during the regular season. While the competition is sure to increase dramatically over the next few rounds, it’s no fluke that the lady Longhorns have played their way to a No. 3 state ranking, while the lady Wolverines hold the No. 4 spot.
Lambert hosted Cedartown in the first round and lost only one game, a near perfect victory. Karlee Byrd (6-0, 6-0) and Kealee Heffner (6-0, 6-1) brought home wins at the No. 1 and 2 singles spots, while the No. 3 singles position was a win by forfeit. Doubles proved to be just as difficult for Cedartown as Taylor Lefton and Morgan Adams (6-0, 6-0) and Kate Trinkle and Lauren Ewers (6-0, 6-0) won both matches handily. West Forsyth also provided a dominant win as Jenna Brunner (6-0, 6-0) won at singles and Taylor Hensley and Sydney Niemi (6-3, 6-1) and Savannah Miller and Amanda Conklin (6-1, 6-1) won at doubles. The two other singles matches were in progress, but were stopped after West had already taken the best three out of five.
IN THE GYM …
The four team member gymnastics squad of Lauren Anderskow, Abby Kabo, Alexa Kieffer and Marissa Villareal has West Forsyth poised for a strong finish as they get set for the state meet held at Westminster on April 30. With a small roster the team has faced many of the adversities that come with starting a new team, such as building chemistry and dealing with injuries to an already small roster. Anderskow and Villareal still helped to provide many high points racking up top place finishes during the regular season.
Even if the goal isn’t to win the championship, head coach Ashley Austin can still look back on the team’s first year with optimism for the future. "I, myself, am a first year coach at the GHSA level… This year is the first year of the West Forsyth gymnastics program and I was fortunate enough to start with a young squad that we can grow with," remarked Austin.
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